I am writing to thank you for supporting the New Deal for Northern Ontario.

Your statement backing the New Deal in Parliament and your continuing work behind the scenes provide a huge boost to the efforts to revitalize Ontario Northland Transportation Commission and create significant new job and economic opportunities in Ontario’s North.

I understand that a strong and viable ONTC is essential to Northern Ontario’s future economic prosperity. The New Deal plan to build a rail link to the Ring of Fire mineral deposits will open up enormous new job and economic opportunities in the North and across Ontario while also helping to ensure the long-term future of ONTC.

In particular, I applaud your active support for placing existing and future ONTC operations within a federal Ports Authority, under the Canada Marine Act. I urge the federal government to proceed as quickly as possible with the creation of a Ports Authority as it is the ideal structure both for ONTC’s current operations and its expansion to the Ring of Fire.

It is encouraging that the New Deal has been endorsed by a growing list of stakeholders including First Nations communities, ONTC employees, Northern Ontario communities, and mining and various business interests. Your continuing support will play a key role in making the New Deal a success for everyone.